Game story
In Week 1 of the 1999 NFL season on 1999-09-13, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 38–21 final that controlled the game from start to finish.
The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
B. Griese (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with +9.13 total EPA.
On the individual side, D. Marino (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.42 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (+54.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: O.Mare kicks 70 yards from MIA 30 to end zone, Touchback. Mare credited with 79 kickoff yards.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
| Denver Broncos | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 D. Marino · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +13.42 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
- 2 E. McCaffrey · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +10.29 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
- 3 B. Griese · Denver Broncos · Passing · +9.13 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
- 4 A. al-Jabbar · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +6.25 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
- 5 O. McDuffie · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.22 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
- 6 T. Martin · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.65 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
- 7 C. Doering · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.93 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.31 EPA/play
- 8 B. Chamberlain · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.51 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
D. Marino — MIA · Passing
D. Marino posted the highest total EPA (+13.42) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Miami Dolphins's efficiency. Across 24 counted snaps, they averaged +0.56 EPA per play.
The signature play (-7.48 EPA) came from Denver Broncos: (4:08) B.Griese sacked at DEN 6 for -18 yards (R.Owens). FUMBLES (R.Owens), RECOVERED by MIA-J.Taylor at DEN 4. J.Taylor for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Denver Broncos — unlisted player
- Miami Dolphins — unlisted player
- Miami Dolphins — unlisted player
- Miami Dolphins — unlisted player
- Denver Broncos — unlisted player
- Miami Dolphins — unlisted player
- Miami Dolphins — unlisted player
- Denver Broncos — unlisted player
Field goals
- Miami Dolphins — unlisted player
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the MIA 61 (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) B.Griese pass to E.McCaffrey for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 56:15) — J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Teague, Holder-T.Rouen. PENALTY on MIA, Defensive 12 On-field, 5 yards, enforced between downs..
The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 17–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q2 40:53) — (10:53) A.al-Jabbar up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q2 38:54) — O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DEN 12 (Q2 36:46) — (6:46) D.Marino pass to R.Konrad for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q2 33:02) — O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DEN 20 (Q2 30:07) — (:07) O.Mare 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard..
The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) J.Johnson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q3 25:02) — O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the MIA 11 (Q3 22:08) — (7:08) (Shotgun) B.Griese pass to E.McCaffrey for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 18:42) — J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Teague, Holder-T.Rouen..
The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–7. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DEN 4 (Q4 14:04) — (14:04) (Shotgun) D.Marino pass to O.McDuffie for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 9:31) — O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the MIA 76 (Q4 4:08); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 3:56) — O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the MIA 4 (Q4 0:40) — (:40) B.Griese pass to E.McCaffrey for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q4 0:34) — J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Teague, Holder-T.Rouen..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Denver Broncos (Q1 60:00) — O.Mare kicks 70 yards from MIA 30 to end zone, Touchback. Mare credited with 79 kickoff yards.
- Denver Broncos (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) B.Griese pass to E.McCaffrey for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Miami Dolphins (Q2 36:46) — (6:46) D.Marino pass to T.Martin pushed ob at DEN 25 for 40 yards (C.Watson).
- Denver Broncos (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) J.Elam 44 yard field goal is BLOCKED (L.Bromell), Center-T.Teague, Holder-T.Rouen, RECOVERED by MIA-T.Buckley at MIA 21. T.Buckley to DEN 36 for 43 yards (J.Elam).
- Miami Dolphins (Q2 36:46) — (6:46) D.Marino pass to R.Konrad for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Denver Broncos (Q4 4:08) — (4:08) B.Griese sacked at DEN 6 for -18 yards (R.Owens). FUMBLES (R.Owens), RECOVERED by MIA-J.Taylor at DEN 4. J.Taylor for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Denver Broncos (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) B.Griese pass to E.McCaffrey for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Denver Broncos (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) J.Elam 44 yard field goal is BLOCKED (L.Bromell), Center-T.Teague, Holder-T.Rouen, RECOVERED by MIA-T.Buckley at MIA 21. T.Buckley to DEN 36 for 43 yards (J.Elam).
- Miami Dolphins (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) A.al-Jabbar left guard to MIA 34 for 6 yards (M.Lodish).
Quarterback report card
B.Griese led all passers in efficiency for Denver Broncos, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- B.Griese (Denver Broncos) · 45 dropbacks · 53.3% completion · +0.20 EPA/play · +9.13 total EPA
- D.Marino (Miami Dolphins) · 24 dropbacks · 62.5% completion · +0.56 EPA/play · +13.42 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Miami Dolphins | Denver Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.272 | +0.007 |
| Offensive success rate | 57.5% | 43.8% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.559 | +0.222 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.171 | -0.130 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.007 | -0.272 |
| Defensive success rate | 56.2% | 42.5% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Miami Dolphins generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.27 vs +0.01), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- Denver Broncos: 11 drives, +0.72 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
- Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, +19.89 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Miami Dolphins leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- D. Marino (Miami Dolphins) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 60:00 · MIA 61 · Score 0-6
(15:00) (Shotgun) B.Griese pass to E.McCaffrey for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 56:15 · MIA 2 · Score 0-7
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Teague, Holder-T.Rouen. PENALTY on MIA, Defensive 12 On-field, 5 yards, enforced between downs. - Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 40:53 · DEN 1 · Score 6-7
(10:53) A.al-Jabbar up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 38:54 · DEN 2 · Score 7-7
O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard. - Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 36:46 · DEN 12 · Score 13-7
(6:46) D.Marino pass to R.Konrad for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 33:02 · DEN 2 · Score 14-7
O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard. - Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 30:07 · DEN 20 · Score 17-7
(:07) O.Mare 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard. - Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 30:00 · DEN 1 · Score 23-7
(15:00) J.Johnson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 25:02 · DEN 2 · Score 24-7
O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard. - Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 22:08 · MIA 11 · Score 24-13
(7:08) (Shotgun) B.Griese pass to E.McCaffrey for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 18:42 · MIA 2 · Score 24-14
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Teague, Holder-T.Rouen. - Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 14:04 · DEN 4 · Score 30-14
(14:04) (Shotgun) D.Marino pass to O.McDuffie for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 9:31 · DEN 2 · Score 31-14
O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard. - Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 4:08 · MIA 76 · Score 37-14
(4:08) B.Griese sacked at DEN 6 for -18 yards (R.Owens). FUMBLES (R.Owens), RECOVERED by MIA-J.Taylor at DEN 4. J.Taylor for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 3:56 · DEN 2 · Score 38-14
O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Perry, Holder-D.Huard. - Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 0:40 · MIA 4 · Score 38-20
(:40) B.Griese pass to E.McCaffrey for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 0:34 · MIA 2 · Score 38-21
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Teague, Holder-T.Rouen.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos?
The Miami Dolphins beat the Denver Broncos 38-21 in Week 1, 1999 on 1999-09-13.
What was the final score of Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos?
The final score was Miami Dolphins 38, Denver Broncos 21 (MIA 38-21 DEN) in Week 1, 1999 on 1999-09-13.
What was the score by quarter in Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos?
Q1: Miami Dolphins 0, Denver Broncos 7; Q2: Miami Dolphins 17, Denver Broncos 0; Q3: Miami Dolphins 7, Denver Broncos 7; Q4: Miami Dolphins 14, Denver Broncos 7; Final: Miami Dolphins 38, Denver Broncos 21.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos?
Denver Broncos touchdown — unlisted player (Q1 60:00) Miami Dolphins touchdown — unlisted player (Q2 40:53) Miami Dolphins touchdown — unlisted player (Q2 36:46) Miami Dolphins touchdown — unlisted player (Q3 30:00) Denver Broncos touchdown — unlisted player (Q3 22:08) Miami Dolphins touchdown — unlisted player (Q4 14:04) Miami Dolphins touchdown — unlisted player (Q4 4:08) Denver Broncos touchdown — unlisted player (Q4 0:40) Miami Dolphins field goal — unlisted player (Q2 30:07, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos?
B. Griese (Denver Broncos), 53.3% completion, +0.20 EPA per dropback, +9.13 total passing EPA. D. Marino (Miami Dolphins), 62.5% completion, +0.56 EPA per dropback, +13.42 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos?
D. Marino (Miami Dolphins) led the game in total EPA with +13.42 on passing plays. across 24 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-7.48 EPA): (4:08) B.Griese sacked at DEN 6 for -18 yards (R.Owens). FUMBLES (R.Owens), RECOVERED by MIA-J.Taylor at DEN 4. J.Taylor for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.. The biggest win-probability swing was +54.2%.
Season records after this game
Miami Dolphins
Now 1-0 W
Denver Broncos
Now 0-1 L
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